ATA News from Albania, 96-07-21

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From: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>

CONTENTS

[01] SDP TRIES TO PROFIT FROM THE SP ELECTORATE

[02] ELLIOT ENGEL CUTS INAUGURATION RIBBON IN THE U.S. OFFICE IN PRISHTINE

[03] SP LEADER ON AN EMANICIPATING REFORM IN HIS PARTY

[04] PRESS REVIEW

[01] SDP TRIES TO PROFIT FROM THE SP ELECTORATE

The meeting was held one day after the SDP and the DAP opposed and called a betrayal the SP participation in the round table for local elections.

"SP should take part in the local elections after it is completely renovated," said SDP chairman Skender Gjinushi.

He was of the opinion the renovation would separate from SP a good part of its electorate. Hence, according to Gjinushi, a part of this electorate would be in favour of another left wing party, which , is SDP, according to Gjinushi.

"By getting on our side the electorate that would leak from SP during its renovation, adding the present electorate which according to 'official' data he cited, is 7 per cent, the SDP would become a powerful political party."

In the latest elections this party took about 2.3. per cent of the votes.

Statement of the SDP leader follows the statements and attacks by SDP and DAP right after the meeting of the socialist parties held by the President of the Republic Sali Berisha against their powerful ally in the latest elections, SP.

While SP deputy chairman Servet Pellumbi said referring to the latest Centre Pole declaration that "I don't want to comment the declaration, moreover it carries no arguments." According to Pellumbi, "SP holds that the practice of dialogue and consultations between the parties on the discussion on local elections is an indispensability."

SDP and DAP created, prior to elections, the Centre Pole Alliance, whereas after the boycott of elections since the first round on May 26, they and SP joined the same front to consider the elections invalid.

The Centre Pole declaration also dwells on the DP-SP meetings. "These talks lack both the pluralist dimensions and the necessary transparence." ake/kei/xh/k

[02] ELLIOT ENGEL CUTS INAUGURATION RIBBON IN THE U.S. OFFICE IN PRISHTINE

The charge d'affaires in the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Lorens Buttles said that the announcement of the decision for the establishment of the U.S. Office in Prishtine by the State Secretary Christopher was not spontaneous.

Buttles said that the U.S. has continuously demanded from Belgrade that Kosova should enjoy its full rights again. He underlined that the U.S. Congress too has worked for many years for the solution to the question of Kosova.

Engel said in his address that the "U.S. is here and wants to supervise the situation."

"We must convince President Milosevic to bring back the human rights observers, to help stop the violation of the rights of the Albanian majority in Kosova, to allow the meeting of the elected government of Kosova and to respect the right of the people of Kosova for self-determination," said Engel. lind/kei/xh/k

[03] SP LEADER ON AN EMANICIPATING REFORM IN HIS PARTY

In his message Nano said that he is going to present in the congress an individual report on his activity and the accomplishment of his tasks.

In regard to his motion some days ago addressed to his party demanding changes in the party and which was not welcomed by SP deputy chairmen, Nano writes in the message:

"We all won because the public opinion and we became conscious that also the SP of Albania suffers from the same diseases as other Albanian parties, that the mentality of its bureaucrats does not allow the political emancipation of the electorate and is the main obstacle for the formation and confirmation of the capability and the running responsibility of the SPA."

"We won because we managed to really prove that 'sinners' have penetrated and are acting in the SP," said Nano's message published in Zeri i Popullit.

Nano is jailed in Benca, Tepelena district, southern Albania, for corruption and falsification of documents.

Nano considers himself in the message a political prisoner as his supporters in the SP consider him. kei/xh/k

[04] PRESS REVIEW

Zeri i Popullit publishes the text of the message of Fatos Nano, SP chairman, addressed to his party, under the title "We must display together our capabilities to take upon ourselves our historical responsibilities." Regarding the recent visit to Italy by Albanian Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu, the newspaper writes: "Cold shower for Shehu in Italy." As for the round table on local elections in which the Socialist Party takes part with other Albanian parties, the newspaper writes: "Local self-governing - foundation of democracy."

With regard to Nano's message, Republika writes: "Nano again in offensive against SP leaders." Among economic topics is "Construction of the infrastructure - three highways until 2000."

The Centre Pole writes that "Berisha is destroying the relations" between Albania and the U.S. With regard to the message of Nano, this paper writes "The jailed chairman attacks forcefully Sp leaders."

Albania writes about Nano's message: "The imprisoned chairman abandons the Socialist Party." Concerning the visit to Prishtine of the U.S. congressman Eliot Engel, the paper cites him saying that "There will be no peace in the Balkans without the solution of the Albanian question." The paper also writes that "almost half of the families that receive state economic assistance do not merit it."

With regard to Nano's message, Tribuna writes: "Creation of the Progress Pole announced." The newspaper also reports that the "Peace-Eagle 96" multinational exercise was over.

Koha Jone writes about the participation of the Socialist Party in the round table on the discussion of local elections "Political naivety or mean bargains of SP." Among social topic is "Four Albanian youths arrested in Italy, they had exploited Albanian minors."

Dita Informacion writes that "the split between Nano and the SP deputy chairmen is deepening," referring to the recent message of SP chairman. This paper writes that the Democratic Party National Council will convene today. It will focus on local elections and their organization.

Gazeta Shqiptare considers the message of Nano "a bomb" in the SP, while Ushtria dhe Koha writes that "the multinational exercise ended successfully yesterday and its closing ceremony was held."

Balli Kombit writes that "the lists of municipalities on the homeless families are not held properly," whereas Demokracia writes about the round table of the Albanian parties on the discussion of the local elections. kei/xh/k

From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ata

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